Meet Ashwald the owl
By Theresa Freeman/ TAB Staff Writer
Thursday, September 15, 2005
There is a new winged ambassador for the public library, and his name is Ashwald.
This summer the Friends of the Ashland Public Library asked area kids of all ages to name the "Junior Friends" mascot, a bespectacled brown owl. Rachael Fosner, 12, cast the winning vote.
Rachael said she conjured up the name as a combination of Ashland and the word "owl."
"I thought, 'How can I mix those two things?'" said Rachael, a seventh-grader at Ashland Middle School.
Despite teasing from her sister Olivia, 9, she submitted the suggestion without even her mother, Sue, knowing. She spotted the contest advertised on a sign in the library, at its temporary location at 466 Chestnut St.
"We go to the library pretty often, especially during the summer, once every week or two" said Sue. "They'll take out stacks and stacks of books if they could."
The Fosner girls wish they could visit the library more often.
"When I go there, there are always books I never saw before," said Rachael.
Harry Potter, science fiction and books about animals top Rachael's reading list. And, she enjoys audio books.
"I like audio books because I can do other things while I'm listening," said Rachael, who enjoys drawing cartoons. "And, I can remember things better."
Olivia prefers Junie B. Jones, Miss Piggy Wiggles and the "Rotten School" series of books.
The whole family is looking forward to the library's reopening at its expanded and renovated space at 66 Front St., Sue said. She checks for new releases at the library online, while husband Ron prefers to order volumes from Amazon.com.
"I like the library because it's free," she explained simply.
Rachael entries was one of the many gathered by Aug. 19 and reviewed by the Friends Board of Directors. She won an "I named the Owl" T-shirt.
Hopefully, Ashwald will encourage younger readers to visit the library, said Janet Eames, president of the Friends of the Ashland Public Library. More importantly, the group hopes children and teens realize that the library is "their place, too."
"We want kids to feel that the library is theirs in part," said Eames. "It's not just a place to go. They can discover their own things their and do their own activities."
Ashwald will show up at many events and on many promotions in the future, said Eames.
Junior Friends membership is $5, and it is included with a family membership to the Friends of the Ashland Public Library. Junior Friends members will be notified of upcoming events and receive special treats.
For more information, visit http://www.friendsoftheashlandlibrary.com/jrfriends.html.
(Theresa Freeman can be reached at 508-626-3919 or tfreeman@cnc.com.)